The Gloss Balm is a beautiful medley of shea and mango butters. It promises a smooth look with just a hint of color. The shea and mango butters give your lips a soft shine without a sticky feeling, and that's just a great idea, no matter what the product, what the season.

The Gloss Balm comes in 16 shades and definitely gives you the shine of a gloss, which is the biggest bridge to cross. We always knew that the balm component of this would do well but were a tad bit uncertain about the gloss aspect. Needless to say, our fears were irrational, and the Gloss Balm served us well.

The moisturizing aspect of the balm is important too: It held up nicely, especially in the drier months. It also has the color payoff of a rich lipstick but the color is sheer, so don't expect it to last through your salad for lunch. But of course, since it's so portable, you can slip it into your purse and use it for touchups all day long.

For me, my favorite aspect is the balm: I used to be a diehard Chapstick girl, but I must confess I'm addicted to the balms much more. It lasts a lot longer than most balms I've used (at least three plus hours), and it has a gorgeous shine to it.

Plus, the chunky look and feel is really nice and retro: It makes you feel as though you're taking Crayola to your lips, and that brings out the kid in you. The Gloss Balm comes in 16 different shades, and all of them sheer, from a lovely Ruby Twist to a more nude Mocha Twist. Don't expect the colors to be true to the cap shade though — they're a bit lighter than that, so choose carefully.